The Suns picked up a much-needed and impressive win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, 105-100. In the victory, we saw a Suns team that clicked offensively and played lock-down defense especially in the third quarter where they outscored the Magic 34-17.
Due to back-to-back games and a hectic travel schedule, the Suns practiced for the first time as a unit just 24 hours prior.
Ryan McDonough joined Arizona Sports and reiterated the fact that with more familiarity, the consistency should payoff.
“If you look at the elite teams in the league they come out and play pretty much the same way every night,” McDonough said. “We’re a younger team but we have been inconsistent. We’ve seen the talent and potential our team has when they play up to their potential like they did against Oklahoma City.”
Brandon Knight scored 28 points and dished out seven assists in the win – his best game as a Sun. McDonough and Hornacek see limitless potential in Knight as he continues to develop.
“He’s a talented player – extremely young,” McDonough said. “Even though he’s in his fourth year in the league, he just turned 23-years-old. He’s younger than some of the players who were draft eligible this year in 2015. We think the fact that he was a borderline All-Star in the Eastern Conference and how he played in Milwaukee that he has his best basketball ahead of him.”
Perhaps most encouraging, Knight and Eric Bledsoe have already formed a noticeable chemistry on the court – something that will only improve as (practice) time goes on.
“I think that takes time especially at the point guard position,” McDonough said about the chemistry of the backcourt. “It’s like being the quarterback in football; it’s harder than any other position especially to come in and learn on the fly and learn a whole new playbook, terminology, trying to figure out where your teammates like the ball, where to shoot from.
“I see Brandon [Knight] thinking a lot right now and things get more comfortable for him the game will slow down a little bit.”
Listen to the entire interview with Ryan McDonough below: